Imperium

Duty, diligence, and sacrifice. While they are important to any civilization, they are the central conceits of most empires. Such civilizations seek to expand their borders to fuel their growing needs, which in turn expands its borders and increases the cost of governance, repeating the vicious cycle. However, this “progress” does not come without cost from its people. Soldiers, civilians, and even entire worlds may fall securing resources for the ever-teeming masses of the empire. It is the greatest hope of the imperial leadership that star charts will, some day within their lifetime, show that the empire has no borders. That all will have been welcomed into it—either through diplomacy or the barrel of a blaster.

Full citizens in the heart of such an empire live quite comfortably, and though there are always discrepancies in wealth and power even the near-destitute enjoy comforts and luxuries unheard of in distant colonies. Medicine and education, relatively safe streets at night, a judicial system that generally works for them rather than against them—all are taken for granted as a base living standard. Regardless, every adult citizen must be prepared to join when conscription begins on their world. After all, sacrifices must be made for the greater good.

Characters raised as an imperium subject share a variety of traits in common with one another.

Conscript. All citizens must register for the draft and receive basic training packets and educational courses on blaster safety, as well as basic vehicle skills. You are proficient with pistols and rifles. You also have proficiency with land, air, and space vehicles.

Sheltered Education. Those at the safe center of empires often have privileged access to fine teachers and the opportunity to follow academic interests that might otherwise be too impractical. You gain proficiency in History and either Culture, Nature, Performance, or Religion.

Station in Society. As a citizen of the empire you benefited from some measure of station that those outside your society did not. When interacting with merchants from a sector associated with your empire, you are able to use your station to secure a 10% discount on most goods and services.

Languages. You can read, sign, speak, and write Common and one other language.